Council’s Persons Experiencing Homelessness Camping Framework repealed

Published 26 February 2025

Statement attributable to City of Moreton Bay CEO, Scott Waters:

City of Moreton Bay is repealing its Persons Experiencing Homelessness Camping Framework from Wednesday 12 March, making it illegal for all people to camp on public land and consistent with other illegal camping local laws.

This will make City of Moreton Bay’s Camping on Public Land regulations align with neighbouring South East Queensland councils.

City of Moreton Bay’s local laws reflect community needs and Council has overwhelming community support for ensuring our local laws are abided by.

City of Moreton Bay’s Persons Experiencing Homelessness Camping Framework was a discretionary document intended to guide the management of camping on public land by people experiencing homelessness.

It allowed for people experiencing homelessness to camp on public land for indefinite periods if they complied with various responsibilities. These responsibilities included not impeding reasonable access by other community members and Council officers undertaking their duties, maintaining engagement with Department of Housing and be working towards a housing outcome, not conducting illegal behaviour and keeping the area clean, safe and tidy.

However, the Persons Experiencing Homelessness Camping Framework inhibited Council’s ability to regulate local laws and has contributed towards significant concerns about the decline of public space access, amenity and safety.

These concerns include: the decreasing ability to access some public spaces due to the presence and behaviours of some illegal campers and people experiencing homelessness campers; increasing illegal behaviours in public spaces, such as illicit drug use, excessive consumption of alcohol and use of dangerous weapons; increasing aggression towards public space users and Council staff; increased public safety concerns, including unrestrained animals being kept in public spaces; impacts to permitted businesses operating on Council land; impacts to community events conducted on Council land; deterioration of amenity in public spaces as a result of littering, accumulation of goods, large camping vehicles and over-embellished campsites; and increased public health concerns in public spaces resulting from public toileting, vermin, used syringes and drug paraphernalia.

Some people experiencing homelessness are reported to be choosing to camp in public spaces over the acceptance of crisis accommodation and other reasonable offers of assistance. This was never the intent of the Framework.

Council’s policies and practices regularly evolve, and this update will support Council in striking a reasonable balance between providing support to vulnerable members of our community and achieving the objectives of our local law.

Over the next two weeks, Council officers will inform campers across City of Moreton Bay of these changes and continue to refer people to the State Government for assistance.

After 12 March, Council’s local law will regulate all forms of camping on public land. Indefinite camping will not be permitted, and illegal campers will receive a compliance notice to move.

As part of this compliance, City of Moreton Bay will continue to engage with the State Government’s Department of Housing, to connect individuals with alternative accommodation options and appropriate support.

Council welcomes the establishment of the City of Moreton Bay Homelessness, Safety and Public Amenity Interagency Executive that has been developed between City of Moreton Bay and the State Government’s Department of Housing, Queensland Police Service, Queensland Health, and Transport and Main Roads to support people experiencing homelessness in City of Moreton Bay.

City of Moreton Bay is aware of how complex an issue homelessness is, and we acknowledge that this change will not be welcomed by everyone.

The health and safety of people experiencing homelessness is core to this change and repealing the Framework will enable these individuals to get the critical support they need.

The Queensland Government is responsible for providing safe and appropriate housing including crisis accommodation and social housing options, as well as homelessness support services, for vulnerable members of our community.

City of Moreton Bay continues to advocate the State Government to deliver more crisis accommodation and social housing to support our local community.

City of Moreton Bay has taken a proactive approach, pioneered initiatives and continues to explore options to combat the effects of the national housing crisis.

Initiatives include Council waiving development fees and infrastructure charges in fifteen suburbs for affordable and social housing, offering Council land to community housing providers Bric Housing and Coast2Bay Housing Group Ltd, committed $3.7 million to the new Peninsula Support Hub and supported the Redcliffe Sleepbus.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the Persons Experiencing Homelessness Camping Framework?

The Persons Experiencing Homelessness Camping Framework allowed for people experiencing homelessness to camp on public land for indefinite periods if they complied with various responsibilities. These responsibilities included not impeding reasonable access by other community members and Council officers undertaking their duties, maintaining engagement with Department of Housing and be working towards a housing outcome, not conducting illegal behaviour and keeping the area clean, safe and tidy.

Why has Council made this change?

The Persons Experiencing Homelessness Camping Framework has not achieved the intended balance between providing support to vulnerable members of our community and achieving the objectives of our local law.

The framework has been repealed due to significant concerns about the decline of public space access, amenity and safety across City of Moreton Bay. This change will enable Council to more effectively utilise its Camping on Public Land Local Law 2023 to regulate all forms of camping on public land; achieve the intended balance between supporting people experiencing homelessness and maintaining access, amenity and safety within Council-controlled public spaces; and bring City of Moreton Bay back into line with other local governments.

Council’s policies and practices regularly evolve, and this update will support Council to manage our local laws in line with community expectations.

This change will provide better guidance and direction for people camping in our public spaces and parks.

What are the significant community concerns you cite?

These concerns have included: the decreasing ability to access some public spaces due to the presence and behaviours of some illegal campers and people experiencing homelessness campers; increasing illegal behaviours in public spaces, such as illicit drug use, excessive consumption of alcohol and use of dangerous weapons; increasing aggression towards public space users and Council staff; increased public safety concerns, including unrestrained animals being kept in public spaces; impacts to permitted businesses operating on Council land; impacts to community events conducted on Council land; deterioration of amenity in public spaces as a result of littering, accumulation of goods, large camping vehicles and over-embellished campsites; and increased public health concerns in public spaces resulting from public toileting, vermin harbourage, used syringes and drug paraphernalia.

What are Council Local Laws?

City of Moreton Bay’s local laws reflect community needs and Council has overwhelming community support for ensuring our local laws are abided by. City of Moreton Bay can make and enforce local laws under the Local Government Act 2009

How many people will be impacted?
Local Laws is aware of 137 people experiencing homelessness registered with the State’s Department of Housing with a known location. There are other people experiencing homelessness across the City who are not registered.

How will you inform people experiencing homelessness of this change?

From Thursday 27 February Council Officers will be engaging, in person, with people experiencing homelessness currently staying on public land about the changes. People will continue to be connected with the Department of Housing and support services during this period and after 12 March. This change will provide better guidance and direction for people camping in our public spaces and parks.

When will this change happen?

City of Moreton Bay is repealing its Persons Experiencing Homelessness Camping Framework from Wednesday 12 March.

What will happen if people don't comply?

Council will work with all persons camping on public land to achieve the requirements of Council’s local laws and ensure that they are connected in with the Queensland Government Department of Housing and Public works, and local support services.

Where will people go?

What if people move to other public places in City of Moreton Bay?

Council has a dedicated team of Council Officers who work specifically with people experiencing homelessness. Ensuring people comply with Local Laws is part of their everyday activities and we will be managing those people who move from site to site to ensure they are best placed to receive housing and support services.

How is Council helping people?

City of Moreton Bay has continued to engage extensively with the State Government’s Department of Housing, who have the responsibility to connect these people with alternative accommodation options and appropriate supports.

Council has taken a proactive approach and continues to explore options to combat the effects of the national housing crisis.

Why isn’t Council housing people?

The State Government has the remit for providing safe and appropriate housing including crisis accommodation and social housing options, as well as homelessness support services, for vulnerable members of our community. Council has supported the Redcliffe Sleepbus and other organisations who provide accommodation and support however this is not a cost that can be passed on to ratepayers.

What is Council doing to engage with State Housing?

City of Moreton Bay has continued to engage extensively with the State Government’s Department of Housing, who have the role to connect these people with alternative accommodation options and appropriate supports.

It is the State Government's responsibility to provide safe and appropriate housing including crisis accommodation and social housing options, as well as homelessness support services, for vulnerable members of our community.

Council will continue to advocate for increased investment in crisis accommodation and support services across City of Moreton Bay.

If you seize belongings, what happens to them, how will be people get them back, will it cost money to get them back?

Abandoned camps are disposed of due to public health concerns. Council does not remove personal belongings from people. Council will only remove abandoned items left behind and rubbish.

Why are QPS attending?

Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 as with every other workplace, we have a legal obligation to keep our workforce safe.

You said in December you would do a comprehensive review - Can I read that?

The findings of the review process are outlined in the report submitted to Council’s 26 February 2025 General Meeting.

What has Council done to alleviate homelessness?

City of Moreton Bay has taken a proactive approach and continues to explore options to combat the effects of the national housing crisis.